NEW YORK CITY

Alley Pond Park

Home to the “Queens Giant” – the tallest and oldest living thing in New York City. Alley pond is a

beautiful 655 acre park on the outskirts of eastern Queens. Alley Pond contains almost 10 miles of

unpaved hiking trails, a nature center, bird sanctuary, adventure course, ball fields and designated bike

paths.

Take the QM5 Bus from 57 St. & Madison Ave in Manhattan to the 73 Ave/220 St. stop in Queens. - The

entrance to the park is about 1 block east on 73rd Ave.

Floyd Bennet Field

This was once NYC’s first municipal airport it’s now part of Gateway National Recreation Area. You can

stop by the visitor’s center and museum to get an idea of the amazing history behind the park, as well as hike and bike on the trails. This is also the only place in NYC where you can camp overnight.

Take the [2, 5] Trains to Flatbush Ave. Station, walk 1 block south on Flatbush Ave. to catch the Q35 Bus

south getting off at the Flatbush Ave. & Opp Ryan Visitor Center Stop. - The visitor’s center and entrance

to the park will be across the street from the bus stop.

16 min (7 stops)

Flatbush Av & Opp Ryan Visitor Ctr

Flatbush Av & Opp Ryan Visitor Ctr

Brooklyn, NY 11234

Inwood Hill Park

This park is the largest remaining piece of forest land on the island of Manhattan. At only 164 acres this

park is small by comparison to Central Park, but makes up for it by offering tightly packed trails that

snake up and down hills which can make for a challenging urban hike.

Take the [A] Train to Dyckman Street Subway Station – The entrance to the park will be block west on

Dyckman St.

Staten Island Greenbelt

This is one of the most biologically diverse places in NYC covering about 2,800 acres of Staten Island.

Take the X10 Bus from Broadway/Vesey Street to Narrows Rd N/Richmond Rd then walk under the

overpass to pick up the S74 Bus to Richmond Rd / St Patricks Place – The entrance to the park will be a

few hundred feet north on Arthur Kill Rd on your left.

15 min (24 stops)

Service run by MTA New York City Transit - Route information

Richmond Rd/St Patricks Pl Walk

About 2 min , 0.1 mi

Head east on Richmond Rd toward Court Pl

Destination will be on the left

0.1 mi

Richmond Rd/St Patrick Pl Staten Island, NY 10306

Van Cortlandt Park

This is the third largest park in NYC. It has a pool, museum, the most heavily used cross country running

track in the US, and miles of hilly trails for hiking. If you’re adventurous you may even been able to find the waterfall and the Croton Aqueduct Weir Chamber.

Take the [1] train to 242nd Street. – The Entrance to the Park will be just downstairs from the train

platform.

LONG ISLAND, HUDSON VALLEY, HUDSON HIGHLAND

Massapequa Park

A little gem in Nassau County on Long Island, this is one of the few places where you can feel like you’re truly escaping the suburbs with both bike and hike friendly trails. If you’re traveling by bike ($5 gets you

a lifetime bike pass on the LIRR) it’s a scenic ride down to Tanner Park to enjoy the beach before headed

back to NYC.

Take a Babylon bound Long Island Railroad Train departing from Penn Station to the Massapequa stop.

The entrance to the park will be a few hundred feet to the east on Veterans Blvd.

Hudson Highlands State Park

Home to one of the most famous trails to NY hikers (Breakneck Ridge) Hudson Highlands Park is full of

amazing features including the abandoned Cornish Estate where you can still explore the ruins of the

mansion.

Taking a Hudson Line train towards Poughkeepsie from Grand Central Terminal to the Breakneck Ridge

Stop, the trailhead is a quick walk south down Route 9D.

Harriman State Park & Bear Mountain

This is the most expansive park within 90 minutes of NYC with over 250 miles of hiking trails. You can go

up for a quick loop or literally spend days backpacking around the park sleeping at the various campsites

and shelters.

You can access this park from 2 different sides by either bus or train. While train tends to be the more

popular, bus from the New York Port Authority Terminal is actually faster and provides more options for

pickup/drop off locations and schedule frequency. There is also access to the park at different stops all

along the bus lines:

Bus:

Eastern Park Bus Schedule (Most Popular Stop: Bear Mountain)

https://web.coachusa.com/CoachUsaAssets/files/98/pough-nwbrg.pdf

Wester Park Bus Schedule (Most Popular Stop: Tuxedo)

https://web.coachusa.com/CoachUsaAssets/files/98/HudsonO.pdf

Train:

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Sterling Forest State Park

Sometimes thought of as an extension of Harriman because of its proximity, this park provides ample of adventures of

its own. Currently there is an IMBA project to build the first 20 miles of mountain bike trails in Sterling Forest in over 20

years.

Accessible by New Jersey Bus for the south end, or by Coach USA/Shortline for the north end.

North End (Tuxedo Park and Ride or Arden Valley Rode – not featured on schedule but the driver will drop you off):

https://web.coachusa.com/CoachUsaAssets/files/98/HudsonO.pdf

South end:

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Del Water Gap National Recreation Area & High Point State Park

While not quite as easily accessible as some of the other places near NYC, the views from the peaks and ridgelines are

absolutely breathtaking and well worth the adventure out here. Plus if you’re planning on section hiking the Appalachian Trail you’ll need to head out here at some point.

You’ll want to take the New Jersey Train Port Jervis Line to Port Jervis station from Penn Station and catch a cab to one

of the many nearby trails. Grab NYNJ Trail Conference map #120-123

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